Friction-clutch.



PATENTED MAR. 26, 1907.

3 SHEETSSHEET 1.

hfucmco PATENTED MAR. 26, 1907.

S.LAKE. V FRICTION CLUTCH.

APPLICATION FILED HAIL 2, 1906.

3 SHEETSSHEBT 2.

No. 848,379. PATENTEDMAR. 26, 1907.

S. LAKE. FRICTION CLUTCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 2. 1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- vertical section showing one form UNITED STATES PATENT 'orFroE.

' SIMONVLAKE', or BERLIN, GERMANY.

' FRICTION-CLUTCH,

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed March 2,1906. Serial No. 303,741.

Patented March 26, 1907.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SIMON LAKE, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resi dent of Berlin," Germany, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Friction-Clutches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in friction-clutches, and has for its rimary object to provide a construction of c utch which will occu y comparatively small s ace and which will be capable of transmittmg large powers with efficiency and reliability.

To this end the invention consists, broadly, in a clutch brought into and maintained in engagement by means of fluid under pressure acting in axial direction, the pressure being ap lied over as large an area as possible.

More particularly, the invention consists in a construction of clutch wherein one-half of the clutch carries what may be termed a piston, between which and that half of the clutch is formed a fluid-tight s ace, so that on admission of compressed uid to said space the piston is traversed axially and effects the engagement of the friction-surfaces.

The invention further consists in the provision of im roved means for taking up end thrust and 0 improved means for preventing leakage of the compressed fluid, as hereinafter more particularly described.

Further objects wil be a parent from the following description, in w 'ch reference is made to the accompanying sheets of drawm s.

in the drawings, Figure 1 is a lon itudinal f the improved clutch as adapted for transmit-ting rotary motion from one shaft to another. Fi s. 2 and 3 are end views thereof.

in carrying the invention into practical ef-' feet I key the hub 1 of one half of the clutch securely to one shaft A and a disk 2, forming a member of the other half of the clutch, to the other shaft B. The disk 2 carries what I term a piston 3, which piston has formed integral therewith or bolted to one face a friction-cone 4. The said piston is capable of receiving a slight axial movement, which permits the male cone portion 4 to engage with the female carrying portion or conical bush 5, carried by the firstmentioned half of the clutch. Securely held between the disk 2 and a ring 7, hereinafter referred to, by means of bolts or pins 0 is a diaphragm 6. The said diaphragm is also securely fastened .ton and the disk 2, so as to make the to the piston 3by means of bolts or ins d, which bolts extend all the way round t is isrephragm fluid-tight, thus forming a fluid-tight s ace between the piston 3 and the disk 2.

he bush 5 is provided with a flange over which hooks an internal flange formed on a ring 7, bolted to the disk 2. Pins or bolts 8 are screwed into thepiStQn-head 3, and surrounding said bolts are helical springs 9 under compression, which tend to withdraw the piston 3 and cone t from the bush 5. The said bolts 8 move freel in the disk 2 and cooperate'with the diap ragm in maintainin the angular relation between the disk 2 am piston 3, and so take the strain of driving the piston when the disk 2 is rotated. Plugs 10 are screwed into the disk 2 over the bolt-orifices, so as to render the same fluid-tight, since compressed fluid when admitted to the space between the piston 3 and disk 2 might otherwise leak past the bolts 8 and so escape.

A steel late 11 is securely bolted to the hub 1 and the bush 5 by means of pins or bolts e and f. The said plate 11 is comparatively thin, so as to act as a diaphragm and permit the bush 5 to receive a slight axial movement on the hub 1, (about'one-eighth of an inch,) which is limited by the bolthead 13.

A ring 14 fits snu 1y an annular-groove turned out in the hu% portion of the disk 2 and is held in place by rings 15 16 and by a number of. small screws, as shown. Said ring 14 is held toa carrier-piece 17 by means of springs 18 19 and bolts 20 21 and is thus prevented from rotating with the shaft B. The tension of the said springs 18 19 may be adjusted by the set-screws 22 23, and said springs are securel fastened to the carrier 24, held in a brac et 25 and permitted to turn, so as to bring an equal tension on each of the springs.

A pipe 26 is led into the carrier-piece 17 and serves to conduct compressed fluid, such as air or any suitable liquid, into the fluidtight annular s ace formed between the piston-head 3 an the disk 2. A pi e 27 also serves to introduce lubricating oil or grease into the annular groove surrounding the ring 14.

' A thrust-ring 28 may be set up, by'means of colts 29 30,.to form contact with the hub 1, as shown; but this is not essential.

The operation of the clutch is as follows: Inthe position shown in Fig. 1 thefrictioncone 4 is just in contact with the bush 5, and the flange on the said bush 5 is slightly clear of the ring 7. On the introduction of additional air or other fluid into the annular space between the piston 3 and the disk 2 the piston will move the bush 5 endwise until the flange thereon engages the internal flange on the ring 7, thus permitting sullicient pressure in the said annular space to effect a positive drive between the two halves of the clutch. On relievin the pressure the springs 9 immediately wit draw the piston clear of the bush 5, whlch is also restored to its original position clear of the ring 7 by the Eiiite 11, so that one half of the clutch can t on revolve free from contact with the other half.

It is to be observed that this arrangement permits of utilizing nearly the full diameter of the clutch as a pressure-surface, so as to powerfully force the cone 4 into the socket of the bush 5, and thus cause very considerable trolled by a simple two-way cock.

friction at the points of contact between the bush 5 and the ring 7 and cone 4.

The fluid for operatim the clutch may be supplied from an air or hydraulic system located at any convenient position and be con- On turning the cock in one direction fluid is admitted to the space between the piston 3 and the disk 2, and the clutch is brought in to engagement. On turning the cock the other way the pressure is relieved, and the springs 9 disengage the clutch. As soon as the fluid is turned on it forces the ring 14 back agair'ist the rings 15 16, thus forming a. seatin and preventing the escape of the fluid. The luricating-oil acts as a packing where high pressures are used to prevent too great thrust coming upon the rings, which might produce cutting.

While I have described in the foregoing specification the construction of parts preconstruction and operation may be made ferred, I am aware that numerous changes of without departing from the spirit of the invention and I therefore do notwish myself to he understood as limiting myself by the positive terms employed in connection with the description, excepting such as the state of the art may require.

Having now described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. A friction-clutch, having an axiallymovable member, and a yielding medium controlling the extentof said IHOVCITMTIY, and a complement-a1 member, an axially-movable iston arranged in a fluid-pressure chamber in said com lemental member, the clutehingface carrie(i by said piston, means to admit fluid-pressure into the pressure-chamber to force one member into engagement with the other under a yielding action of the firstmentioned member, and spring connections between the piston and its member to disengage the clutching parts upon withdrawal of fluid-pressure.

2. The improved friction-clutch, comprising, in combination with the drive and the driven elements, an axially-movable piston carried by one element and adapted under the action of fluid-pressure to bring together the friction-surfaces, and resilient means for taking up endthrust on said elements.

' 3. The im roved friction-clutch, comprising, the com ination with two rotary shafts of a disk carried b one'shaft, an axiallyslidable piston carried by said phragm connected to the piston 'and the disk and forming a fluid-tight space between said piston and said disk, and friction devices rotatin'g with said shafts and brought into enpiston.

4. The improved friction-clutch, com rising, in combination with two rotary sha ts, a disk carried by one shaft, an axialiy-slidable piston carried by said disk, a diaphragm connected to the lston andthe disk and forming a fluid-tig t space between said piston and said disk, a friction-cone carried by said piston, a friction-bush slidable relative to the other shaft, and a flanged ring carried by iaidhdisk limitingthe axial movement of said 5. A friction-clutch, having a disk and a piston slidably mounted thereon and connected therewith by a diaphragm and retracting-springs,.a clutch-ringcarfid by said piston, means to admit fluid-pressure between the disk and iston, and a complemem tal clutch member aving a yielding clutching-piece engaged by the clutch-ring.

6. The improved friction-clutch, comprising, in combination with two rotary shafts, a disk carried by one shaft, an axially movable piston carried by said disk, a diaphragm forming a fluid-tight space between said piston and said disk, a friction-cone carried by said piston, a friction-bush slidable relative to the other shaft, a flanged ring carried by said disk limiting the axial movement of said bush, bolts secured to' the piston and entering said disk, and springs surrounding said gagement by' the axial movement of the bolts and pressing together said piston and disk, a dianected therewith by a diaphragm and remember having a yielding clutching-piece IO tractingsprings, a clutch-ring carried by said en ""aged by the clutch-rin piston, means to admit fluid-pressure ben testimony whereof? have signed my tween the disk and piston, includin" a ring I name to this specification in the presence of mnvably fitted in a groove in the dis and a two subscribing witnesses. carrier-piece to which the ring is fitted and i SIMON LAKE. through which the pressure-fluid is supplied, Witnesses:

a carrier for the carrier-piece and springs HENRY HASPER, connecting them, and'a complemental clutch WOLDEMAR HAUPT. 

